Cameroon and Ivory Coast both won on Friday as the two heavyweights continue their battle for the single play-off place from Group D of African qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored twice as Cameroon beat visitors Mozambique 3-1 at the Japoma stadium in Douala.
The 32-year-old continued his fine start to the season with a towering header to open the scoring before netting again seven minutes after the break, with Lyon’s Karl Toko Ekambi adding the third.
The visitors pulled one back in the 80th minute through Sporting Lisbon’s Geny Catamo but then saw Danilo Muze sent off for two bookable offences in less than three minutes.
Earlier in Group D, Ivory Coast scored two late goals to secure a 3-0 win over ‘hosts’ Malawi in a match played in the South African city Johannesburg.
Malawi are one of eleven African nations whose stadia do not meet requirements to host internationals, says African football’s ruling body Caf.
The Elephants took the lead seven minutes before half-time through 31-year-old Max Gradel.
The Turkey-based midfielder was set up by Serge Aurier in his first competitive game since June, with the 28-year-old recently joining Spanish side Villarreal after being released by Tottenham Hotspur in August.
Netherlands-based Ibrahim Sangare doubled the lead in the 85th minute before Sassuolo forward Jeremie Boga completed the win deep into stoppage time.
The Elephants and Malawi face each other again on Monday in Benin while Mozambique ‘host’ Cameroon in Morocco.
Ivory Coast, who are set to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, and Mozambique are among the nations forced to play at a neutral venue as their stadia are not up to international requirements.
Testing times in Angola
The Group F encounter between Angola and Gabon in Luanda was delayed by more than 90 minutes because of an unspecified problem with pre-match Covid-19 testing procedures.
Later on Friday in the same group, Egypt welcome neighbours Libya as the Pharaohs seek back-to-back World Cup qualifications for the first time in their history.
There are also two Group A games on Friday with African champions Algeria hosting Niger while at the same time Djibouti face Burkina Faso, in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.
The game was moved from Djibouti where the home stadium has also been designated as requiring improvements.
The winners of Africa’s ten qualifying groups will contest next March’s play-offs to decide the continent’s five representatives at Qatar 2022.
Source: BBC
